January 15th is the 94th anniversary of the Great Molasses Flood. Twenty one people were killed and another 150 injured on Commercial Street in Boston’s North End when a tank of molasses ruptured and exploded on January 15, 1919. Click images for slideshow.
The Boston Post front page news coverage (11 dead, 50 hurt) of the Molasses Disaster, January 16, 1919 (Courtesy Boston Public Library)
Twisted elevated structure on Atlantic Avenue damaged in Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Wreckage under the elevated where many express trucks parked, Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Panorama of the Molasses Disaster site – Globe Newspaper – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Eleven dead, more than sixty injured, buildings and L tracks wrecked by explosion of big molasses tank [Boston Herald, January 16, 1919] – Courtesy of Boston Public LIbrary
Section of tank after Molasses Disaster explosion. 1:00pm – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Molasses tank explosion injures 50 and kills 11 [Boston Daily Globe, January 16, 1919] Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Tank cut into sections with acetylene torch in search of bodies underneath Molasses Disaster – Leslie Jones copyright – Courtesy of Boston Public Library
Firemen standing in thick molasses after the disaster; Leslie Jones Copyright (1886-1967 photographer) Courtesy of the Boston Public Library
A huge wave of the syrupy brown liquid moved down Commercial Street at a speed of 35 mph over two blocks destroying all in its path. In today’s dollars, the property damage is estimated at over $100 million. Purity Distilling Company built the tank, 50 feet high and 90 feet wide, in the densely populated neighborhood of mostly Italian immigrants at the time.
The disaster brought nationwide attention to the lack of industrial safety standards. Complaints of cracks and leaks in the tank were literally covered with brown paint by the company that initially said anarchists blew up the tank. Later, a lengthy class action lawsuit brought forward damaging evidence resulting in a settlement of $600,000 (~$11 million in today’s dollars). Although Purity used the molasses for industrial alcohol, some hypothesize that the tank was overfilled because of the the prohibition threat for possible use later to distill rum. Neighborhood folklore has it that you can smell the ill-sweet remains in the summer’s hottest weather. (Sources: Wikipedia, Mass Moments, Wired)
Great Molasses Flood – Videos and Media Collection
Armenian Heritage Foundation’s The K. George and Carolann S. Najarian, M.D. Inaugural Lecture on Human Rights – an endowed public program of the Foundation, sponsor ofArmenian Heritage Park on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, Boston.
The Inaugural Lecture is in recognition of the groundbreaking of Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway in 2010.
Date & Time: Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7pm
Place: Faneuil Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Keynote Speaker: Kerry Kennedy
Human Rights Activist; Founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, Washington, D.C.; Author of Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who are Changing Our World
Opening Remarks: Peter Balakian
Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the Humanities, Colgate University; Author of The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response – A History of International Human Rights and Forgotten Heroes
Free and open to the public, the lecture is offered in partnership with The Bostonian Society, academic institutions and human rights organizations.
Here is another photo in the collection of 1933 depression-era photos of the North End, showing the corner of Endicott and Cross Streets before the artery went up. Source: unknown We will post more from this series in upcoming Neighborhood Photo posts. “Neighborhood Photo” is a regular feature on NorthEndWaterfront.com. Did you take an interesting Read More…
The Following event notices are courtesy of the Paul Revere House, located at 19 North Square, Boston: June Events: 21 Summer Saturdays: Colonial Weaving Demonstration, 1:00-3:00 Talented craftsman Fred Lawson demonstrates the art of creating cloth by hand and simple machines. Practice weaving on the small looms provided. (Weather permitting.) 28 Summer Saturdays: The Tailor’s Craft, Read More…
2 Replies to “94th Anniversary of Great Molasses Flood in North End – January 15th”
I highly recommend Stephen Puleo’s “Dark Tide.” The depth of this tragedy and its aftermath are pretty stunning.
I have the book and I am looking forward to reading it!
I highly recommend Stephen Puleo’s “Dark Tide.” The depth of this tragedy and its aftermath are pretty stunning.
I have the book and I am looking forward to reading it!